Tag: Customs and Traditions

Answer by Raakhee V. Menon: I think they’re pretty cool! Though I’m too chicken to get one myself Did you know that Hindus sported tattoos way before they go so popular the world over? They were all green in color and made with some natural permanent ink. They didn’t have those fancy guns back then…

Answer by Raakhee V. Menon: There are several answers here already that have taken direct references to the Mahabharata and even quoted parts of it. So I’ll not go there. I’d like to look at this from a different PoV. I am the first-born of my generation on my mother’s side. This means that I…

I’ve been listening to Mahabharat podcasts and all along, various kings, queens and rishis have prayed and persevered for a boy. Never, a girl. Is the orthodox mindset influenced by our scriptures? I am genuinely curious. Answer by Raakhee V. Menon: As per the culture and traditions of most communities in India, the family…

Answer by Raakhee V. Menon: Qatar A lot of people know tidbits about life in the middle east from what is shown in the media, but one has to actually grow up here and mingle with the locals to know their little quirks 😀 I have been fortunate enough to have quite a few Arab…

Even though I knew Nair families were matrilinear, I assumed they would be still patriarchial, with men (brothers, uncles) controlling their affairs. As seen in the movie ‘Ozhimuri’ were Nair Matriarchs free to choose their paramours/husbands? Did they have choice in regular sambandhams? Answer by Raakhee V. Menon: I believe that it’s unfair to classify…

Answer by Raakhee V. Menon: This one’s my favorite… Although cooking is traditionally considered to be a woman’s ‘department’ in most households (especially Indian ones), almost all of the world’s greatest cooks are men – Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, Wolfgang Puck, etc. Yes, there are famous women chefs too, but the men are clearly way…

Answer by Raakhee V. Menon: Indian women (at least a huge majority of them) will marry only in their traditional wedding attires that vary from state to state and from community to community. They may dress very modern at other times, but weddings are strictly traditional. Most cultures have specific colors to be worn for…